Vail, Colo., Summer 2020 – Nature’s playground waits for teens and families in Vail. The destination is the perfect escape for families with teens with its endless adventure-packed activities, wide open spaces and unique learning opportunities that the entire family will enjoy. If organized activities aren’t cool for certain teens, the destination also offers several places for them to just chill out and meet other people their own age.
Parents can tell teens to take a hike…literally. Vail is home to an abundant trail system that spans 166 miles and has options for all ability levels. To change up the traditional family hiking experience, Paragon Guides offers a “Take a Llama to Lunch” program where llamas accompany and entertain on a backcountry hike. Walking Mountains Science Center offers themed guided hikes, including the Piney Lake Family Adventures on Wednesdays in July and August. This program guides families on an educational 2-hour hike along the Piney River followed by an afternoon of play at Piney River Ranch with opportunities to go horseback riding, canoeing and more. Whereas Vail Mountain provides a great option for teens who want to strike out on their own to try a challenging uphill hike before taking the gondola down to Lionshead or Vail Village.
Beyond hiking, road biking and mountain biking opportunities abound with more than 600 combined miles of biking trails. Trails throughout the valley offer classic aspen and alpine singletrack overlooking the town of Vail. Vail Mountain also is a great option with lift-services mountain biking trails for independent exploration or guided rides by the mountain’s own bike experts.
More outdoor adventures wait for families and teens throughout the area. Vail Stables offers more animal excursions with horseback riding and goat yoga for ages eight and up. For epic views at a faster pace, Nova Guides is among one of the local outfitters and guides offering ATV and side-by-side rentals and tours of the area. Visitors looking to make a splash can head to the valley’s streams and rivers to cast a fly fishing line or ride whitewater rapids. Local experts at Gore Creek Fly Fisherman and Sage Outdoor Adventure can take beginners and experts of all ages on fly fishing trips to the surrounding Gore Creek, Eagle River, Colorado River as well as high-country streams and lakes. Teens will be thrilled riding the whitewater Class I to Class V rapids on tours with Sage Outdoor Adventures and other local guides.
The thrills continue atop Vail Mountain with Epic Discovery, an on-mountain adventure experience like no other. Teens and parents alike will enjoy the array of activities and epic views. Game Creek Zipline Tour and Forest Flying Mountain Coaster allow visitors to fly through and above the forest while two adventure courses and a climbing wall provide a mental and physical challenge.
In addition to the endless adventure opportunities, Vail Village is a hub for activities that everyone in the family can enjoy. The village is home to a plethora of events throughout the spring, summer and fall from the adventure-packed Go Pro Mountain Games to free music at Hot Summer Nights or Vail Summer Bluegrass Series and more. Just a short walk from the main village, the Zeke M. Pierce Skatepark, located in Lionshead, includes features for all ages and abilities as well as a large variety of street and transition style elements. In the summer, riders up to age 14 are invited to join skateboard clinics from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday.
There also are several great spots in town for teens to sit back and relax. Solaris, located in the heart of Vail Village, has free games like giant chess, cornhole and more on their large turf throughout the summer. The whitewater play park sits alongside Gore Creek and is a perfect place for visitors to cool off by dipping their feet in the water or watching kayakers and standup paddleboarders pass by.
Discover Vail in the spring, summer and fall. There’s no place like Vail for year-round recreation, outdoor pursuits and cultural experiences in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Nestled at the foot of Vail mountain just two hours west of Denver, Vail’s fresh air, rugged beauty and charming pedestrian villages await visitors. Discover quaint Bavarian villages where outdoor activities abound and the performing arts flourish. Matching the incredible winter mountain experience, Vail from May through October is characterized by a rich culinary scene, family activities, world-class events and everything in between.
For more information on summer adventures in Vail, please visit DiscoverVail.com.
Media Contacts: Kristin Yantis & Corinne Baud, Malen Yantis Public Relations, [email protected], (970) 949-7919
For the most up-to-date media information on Vail in the spring, summer and fall or to download high resolution images and video, please visit DiscoverVail.com.